- Family Law Centres are Province-funded clinics run by Legal Aid BC that give free legal help to family violence survivors who cannot afford a lawyer.
- To qualify you must be experiencing family violence and have at least one additional eligible legal issue, and parenting arrangements became an eligible issue on June 22, 2026.
- If the Family Law Centres do not fit your situation, Family Justice Centres offer free services to parents and other family members dealing with separation or divorce.
Leaving or trying to leave an abusive relationship is hard enough without also working out how to pay for legal help. If you are dealing with family violence and also have questions about children, support, property or safety, you may not know where to start.
British Columbia has a clinic program built for this situation. This article explains what Family Law Centres are, who qualifies, where they operate, and what other free services exist if you do not fit. It is general information, not advice for your situation.
This article covers the law of British Columbia.
What Family Law Centres are
Family Law Centres are law clinics funded by the Province and delivered by Legal Aid BC. They give free, trauma-informed legal help to family violence survivors who cannot afford a lawyer.
The program is backed by a three-year, $29-million provincial contribution announced in 2024. Trauma-informed simply means the help is delivered with an understanding of how violence can affect someone dealing with the legal system.
Who qualifies
To be eligible, you must be experiencing family violence and have at least one additional eligible legal issue. Parenting arrangements, meaning getting an initial parenting order or changing one, were added as an eligible issue as of June 22, 2026.
The centres prioritize survivors who have fled an abusive partner within the past six months. That is a priority, not a general waiver of the eligibility rules, so it does not mean everyone in that group is automatically accepted, and it does not mean there is no wait or no financial screening. Ask the centre directly how eligibility applies to you.
- You are experiencing family violence.
- You have at least one other eligible legal issue.
- You cannot afford a lawyer.
- If you left an abusive partner in the past six months, you may be given priority.
Issues the centres commonly handle
Common issues include protection orders, denial of parenting time, child support, spousal support, property division and divorce. Whether your particular problem is covered is something the centre can confirm when you contact them.
Where the centres are
There are in-person offices in Surrey and Victoria. Offices in Kamloops and Prince George were expected to open in late summer 2026, so confirm whether they are open before travelling. Virtual services are available in Surrey, Abbotsford, New Westminster, Victoria, Colwood, Duncan, Kelowna, Kamloops, Prince George, Vanderhoof and Mackenzie.
| Type of service | Communities |
|---|---|
| In-person offices | Surrey, Victoria |
| Expected in late summer 2026 | Kamloops, Prince George |
| Virtual services | Surrey, Abbotsford, New Westminster, Victoria, Colwood, Duncan, Kelowna, Kamloops, Prince George, Vanderhoof, Mackenzie |
What a court looks at for a protection order
A court may make a protection order on application by a family member claiming to be at risk, by a person on that member's behalf, or on its own initiative. It does not need to be made together with another proceeding. The test is that family violence is likely to occur and the other person is an at-risk family member.
The court must consider risk factors, including the history of family violence, whether it is repetitive or escalating, recent separation or intention to separate, substance abuse, access to weapons, your own perception of risk, and vulnerability such as pregnancy or economic dependence. If a child is a family member, the court must also consider whether the child may be exposed to family violence and whether an order should also be made for the child.
Unless the court orders otherwise, a protection order expires one year after the date it is made.
If you do not fit, or what to do next
Family Justice Centres offer free services to parents and other family members dealing with separation or divorce. These include help with parenting arrangements, guardianship, child and spousal support, contact with a child, and property division for a companion animal. You can call 1-844-747-3963, Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, and services are also offered by telephone and video conference.
They also provide a needs assessment, legal information with referrals, and safety referrals to VictimLinkBC or police. Some referred services depend on financial need, so you may be asked about income.
- If you are in immediate danger, contact police.
- Write down dates and events of violence while you remember them.
- Gather any existing orders, agreements and children's details.
- Contact a Family Law Centre to ask about eligibility, or call a Family Justice Centre.
- Consider speaking with a lawyer about your specific situation.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to have left my partner to use a Family Law Centre?
The rules say you must be experiencing family violence and have at least one additional eligible legal issue. Having left within the past six months gives you priority, but it is not a requirement or a waiver of other rules.
Is there an income test or a wait?
The centres serve survivors who cannot afford a lawyer. Priority goes to people who fled within six months, so others may wait. Ask the centre how its screening works for you.
Can I get help with parenting orders?
Yes. Parenting arrangements, meaning obtaining an initial parenting order or changing one, were added as an eligible issue as of June 22, 2026. You still need to meet the other eligibility rules.
How long does a protection order last?
Unless the court orders otherwise, a protection order expires one year after the date it is made. A lawyer or legal clinic can explain what to do as that date approaches.
Sources
- BC Gov News – Attorney General release, July 8, 2026 — news.gov.bc.ca
- Family Law Act, SBC 2011, c 25, Part 9, s. 183 — bclaws.gov.bc.ca
- Province of BC – Family Justice Centre services — www2.gov.bc.ca
Links go to official government, court and regulator pages. The law changes — confirm you are reading the current version.
This is a family law question
Ask our Team for a quote. We reply by email.